Series A Education Funders

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

Kapor Capital is an Oakland-based venture capital firm investing in early-stage technology companies that close gaps in access and opportunity for historically underserved communities. The firm backs founders building scalable businesses that improve outcomes across education, healthcare, financial services, workforce development, housing, food systems, and justice. Kapor Capital combines venture investing with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, supporting entrepreneurs whose products and services create measurable social and economic impact while generating venture-scale returns.

NextLadder Ventures is a time-bound initiative investing in transformative navigation technology (NavTech) so more Americans can reclaim their path to progress. Backed by Ballmer Group, Gates Foundation, John Overdeck, Stand Together, and Valhalla Foundation, NextLadder blends philanthropic and market capital to expand access to people-centered, tech-enabled solutions that help families overcome barriers to economic mobility. Over the next 15 years, the venture aims to empower millions of Americans to reach their potential by 2040.